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Revising Wolff’s support for retribution in theories of punishment: desistance, rehabilitation, and accommodating individual and social accounts of responsibility
No full textJonathan Wolff supports retribution as a justification for punishment in his book Ethics and Public Policy: A Philosophical Enquiry, arguing that the victim’s status and self-respect has been undermined by a crime committed. Punishment responds to these ‘social violations’, with the criminal justice system acting as a ‘communicative mechanism’ to the offender and victim, restoring the status of the victim by punishing the offender. Consistent with Wolff’s ‘bottom- up’ methodological approach to applied ethics, this paper defends his conclusions supporting retribution, for certain crimes at least, but his position needs qualifying and supplementing. We mount a defence of retribution which, contrary to popular views, seeks to accommodate both individual and social accounts of responsibility. This accommodation is achieved by holding the individual offender responsible via retributive justifications of punishment, while also acknowledging the social responsibility of restoring the status of the offender given the social injustice experienced by many offenders, prior to their offending. Following this analysis, and a consideration of empirical studies concerning probation practice, we recommend the practice of desistance as most likely to help reduce re-offending, alongside the social responsibility of other state representatives and social institutions for building socio-economic capital for the offender.Non
Complex Knowledge, Coherent Policy? Understanding and Responding to Young People's Needs in Times of Austerity and Crisis
No full textDiscussion of public policy throughout Europe at a time of austerity and crisis, anchored by a review of Antonucci et. al. 2014, Young People and Social Policy in Europe
Performance Accomplishment Information Types as Predictors of Self-Efficacy in Competitive Golf Performance for both Skilled and Non-skilled Amateur Golfers
No full textThe predictive capabilities of different types of performance accomplishment information(PAI) towards self-efficacy for amateur golfers were compared as a function of skill level. Male golfers (N=197; skilled n=84, lesser skilled n=113) recorded self-efficacy levels before and after competitive golf performance. Multiple regression analyses revealed that handicap wasthe most significant predictor of PAI towards pre-round self-efficacy for skilled golfers while practice satisfaction was the most significant predictor for lesser skilled. Handicap achievement was a significant predictor of post-round self-efficacy for both skilled and lesser skilled golfers.The findings imply athletes of varying skill level utilize different information when developing efficacy beliefs. Further study of the relationship between PAI and self-efficacy is therefore warranted in the sports domai
Hearts in the fire, heads in the fridge: A qualitative investigation into the temporal patterning of the precompetitive psychological response in elite performers
No full textRetrospective perceptions and causal beliefs regarding the temporal patterning of precompetitive psychological responses were examined in 12 elite rugby union players. Composite sequence analysis resulted in a series of temporal networks to describe participants' cognitive, affective, and behavioural responses in a time-to-event paradigm. Match-related cognitions remained stable in the lead up to competition, while perceptions of physical symptoms peaked at the onset of performance. Affective responses were associated with feelings of anxiety and tension in the early temporal phases but excitement, confidence, and efficacy in team-mates directly before competition. Behavioural themes described activities associated with technical and physical preparation, familiarization with environmental conditions, and strategies to control activation states early on or directly before competition. The findings highlight the idiosyncratic and dynamic nature of the temporal patterning of precompetitive responses and the influence that perceptions of the team have upon individual preparation for performance. Implications are discussed in the context of the type and timing of intervention for developing individual and team preparatory routine
Interpretations on an Interior
No full textThis paper explores the relationship between place and page in the context of Arnold Bennett’s (1867-1931) writing practice. Bennett is, perhaps, most famous for being the subject of Virginia Woolf’s critique of Edwardian detailism, which in its tendency to describe characters through a detailed inventory of homes and interiors missed, in Woolf’s view, the vitality of life. Yet Bennett’s literary detailism is intriguing for what it suggests about the role that his own interiors and interiority play in the production of literary outputs. Drawing on the work of Diana Fuss (2004), which urges us to consider the significance of the material spaces of composition to the shaping of intellectual labour, this paper examines how the materiality of Bennett’s interiors, particularly that of his French home Les Néfliers, was a powerful partner in his writing practice. Through an exploration of where Bennett wrote and how his places of writing were arranged and decorated, this paper considers how material design and spatial order were integral agents in Bennett’s literary composition.Royal Geographical Societ
Social Inclusion Through ICT: Overcoming Barriers to ICT Use
No full textThe focus of UK government to move toward systems of e-government and online public
service provision has led to a need for ICT skills development in the most socially excluded.
Those members of society who are most socially excluded often lack the technical skills required to access the online services they require, building further barriers to inclusion and engagement.
The use of creative approaches to ICT training, making content relevant and personal to the user, increases the use and long‐term adoption of ICT, thereby leading
to greater levels of social inclusion
Hypoxia and vascular nitric oxide bioavailability; implications for the pathophysiology of high-altitude illness
No full textIntroduction: Nitric oxide (NO) is an integral molecule implicated in the control of vascular
function. It has been suggested that vascular dysfunction may lead to the development of
acute mountain sickness (AMS), high-altitude cerebral oedema (HACE) and high-altitude
pulmonary oedema (HAPE), though data to date remains scarce. Therefore, there is a clear
need for further work to address the role of NO in the pathogenesis of high-altitude illness.
Aims: There were two primary aims of the current work: (1) To examine whether hypoxia
mediated changes in systemic NO metabolism are related to the development of AMS and
sub-clinical pulmonary oedema and (2) to examine whether hypoxia mediated changes in the
trans-cerebral exchange kinetics of NO metabolites are related to the development of AMS
and headache.
Hypothesis: We hypothesise that hypoxia will be associated with an increase in reactive
oxygen species (ROS) formation, resulting in a decrease in vascular NO bioavailability (O2
•-
+ NO ONOO•-, k = 109 M.s-1). The reduction in NO will lead to vascular dysfunction and
impaired oxygen (O2) delivery. Subsequent hypoxaemia will result in pulmonary vascular
vasoconstriction and the development of sub-clinical pulmonary oedema within and mild
brain swelling. Symptoms and reductions in NO bioavailability will be more pronounced in
those who develop AMS since they are typically more hypoxaemic. Alternatively, a hypoxia
mediated increase in NO, during vasodilatation, specifically across the cerebral circulation,
may activate the trigminovascular system resulting in headache and by consequence, AMS.
Methods: Study 1 – AMS symptoms, systemic venous NO concentration and nasal potential
difference (NPD), used as a surrogate biomarker of extravascular lung oedema, were
quantified in normoxia, after a 6hr passive exposure to 12% oxygen (O2) and immediately
following a hypoxic maximal exercise challenge ( 6.5 hrs). Final measurements were
2
obtained two hours into (hypoxic) recovery. Study 2 – AMS, radial arterial and internal
jugular venous NO metabolite concentrations and global cerebral blood flow (CBF), using
the Kety-Schmidt technique, were assessed in normoxia and after a 9hr passive exposure to
12.9% O2. AMS was diagnosed if subjects presented with a combined Lake Louise score of
5 points and an Environmental Symptoms Questionnaire – Cerebral score of 0.7 points.
Results: Hypoxia was associated with a reduction in total plasma NO, primarily due to a
reduction in nitrate (NO3
•) and a compensatory increase in red blood cell (RBC)-bound NO
(P < 0.05 vs. normoxia) in both studies. Study 1 – Exercise reduced plasma nitrite (NO2
•) (P
< 0.05 vs. normoxia) whereas RBC-bound NO did not change. NO was not different in those
who developed AMS (AMS+) compared to those who remained comparatively more healthy
(AMS-) (P < 0.05). NPD was not affected by hypoxia or exercise and was not different
between AMS+ and AMS- (P > 0.05). Study 2 – Hypoxia decreased arterial concentration of
total plasma NO due primarily to a reduction in NO2
•- and nitrate (NO3
•-). Hypoxia did not
alter the cerebral metabolism of RSNO, whereas the formation of RBC-bound NO increased.
Discussion: These findings suggest that alterations in systemic or trans-cerebral NO
metabolism are not implicated in the pathophysiology of AMS or sub-clinical pulmonary
oedema. However, hypoxia was associated with an overall reduction in the total NO pool
(NOx), whereas, selected alterations in more vasoactive NO metabolites were observed.
Reductions in the partial pressure of O2 (pO2) were thought to be a key regulator in these
changes. Overall net increases in RBC NO and corresponding reductions in plasma NO2
• in
the face of no alterations in NOx indicates that rather than being simply consumed, NO is reapportioned
to other NO metabolites and this may be implicated in the pathophysiology of
AMS
A critical analysis of the use of community intelligence in local neighbourhood policing in south Wales
No full textThis research critically analyses the use of community intelligence in the delivery of local neighbourhood policing in South Wales and the police service in general. It examines in detail the development of policing and intelligence, particularly neighbourhood policing and community intelligence from its early beginnings and evaluates the contemporary definitions and police officer and staff perceptions of neighbourhood policing and community intelligence. This research also proposes a new definition of community intelligence and analyses how community intelligence is gathered, recorded and processed, and its relationship to the Intelligence Cycle and the National Intelligence Model. It further examines the operational application of community intelligence, including in counter terrorism and tackling organised crime, and the competing priorities, tensions and contradictions between performance management, neighbourhood policing, problem-oriented policing and intelligence-led policing. This research also evaluates the decision making process and how that may be affected by organisational issues such as, organisational culture, behaviour, management, leadership, information and knowledge. It examines the importance of community engagement in developing community intelligence and providing cohesive policing services to the public. Furthermore, this research considers the future directions of community intelligence and research on policing. The findings from this research indicate that some community intelligence is used to direct policing patrols and operations. However, there is some confusion by police officers and staff as to what constitutes community information and intelligence and thus it is not always recorded correctly limiting its use in the delivery of local neighbourhood policing and resulting in the loss of intelligence. This serves to highlight some of the areas for improvement in the policies, procedures, systems and management of intelligence. The findings also indicate the potential use of community intelligence in counter terrorism and in the provision of improved policing services to the public
The potential health risks of incense use in the home: an underestimated source of indoor air pollution in the UK?
No full textThe health impact of indoor air pollution is a growing area of interest for public health professionals. People typically spend up to 90% of their time indoors, particularly women, young children and elders. Although the adverse health effects of second-hand tobacco smoke are well recognised, the impact of burning incense in the home has received little attention in Western literature. Incense burning in the home is common in a number of cultures (particularly Asian, North African or Arabic). Many health visitors (HVs) work with communities who use incense regularly for religious/ cultural reasons and it is a neglected area for study and research. The literature suggests that home incense use can have significant adverse health effects, particularly on cardiopulmonary morbidity and mortality. Further research is needed to identify which individuals are most susceptible, which types of incense are most harmful, and whether any actions can be taken to minimise exposure
NonPEST: a nonparametric method and a database for Transcription Start Site prediction,
No full textIn this paper we present NPEST, a novel tool for the analysis of expressed sequence tags (EST) distributions and transcription start site (TSS) prediction. This method estimates an unknown probability distribution of ESTs using a maximum likelihood (ML) approach, which is then used to predict positions of TSS. Accurate identification of TSS is an important genomics task, since the position of regulatory elements with respect to the TSS can have large effects on gene regulation, and performance of promoter motif-finding methods depends on correct identification of TSSs. Our probabilistic approach expands recognition capabilities to multiple TSS per locus that may be a useful tool to enhance the understanding of alternative splicing mechanisms. This paper presents analysis of simulated data as well as statistical analysis of promoter regions of a model dicot plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Using our statistical tool we analyzed 16520 loci and developed a database of TSS, which is now publicly available at www.glacombio.net/NPEST